Saturday, March 30, 2024

Outdoor access rules review is on

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People wanting to play in the outdoors are being invited to have their say on legislation that helps them access recreational spaces. Waking Access Review reference group chairman Hugh Logan told high country farmers at their Blenheim conference now is the time to speak.
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“Are their problems, if so what are they and how can they be fixed?” 

The Ministry for Primary Industries is reviewing the Walking Access Act and has asked for public feedback.

Logan said the act provides both New Zealanders and international visitors with access to many outdoor spaces.

It includes public access over the high country, bush, rivers, coasts, mountains and areas of cultural significance in cities, towns and further afield.

There’s no question of changing the act’s two ideals – free access without the right to roam and right of access by permission of the landowner.

The review is looking at whether the act is fit for the future and what improvements are needed.

“What are the issues? The feedback so far is generally things are working okay but some things could be changed.”

He cited barriers to landowners, coping with increasing visitor numbers, particularly in the South Island and the behavior of overseas visitors. 

“We’re keen to hear from individuals, organisations and groups with an interest in enjoying the outdoors.

“This includes everything from walking and bike riding to swimming and fishing, connecting with Maori sites, outdoor education, hunting, four-wheel-driving.”

Maybe in some cases cross-agency management will better help meet farming needs, he said.

“For example, changing knowledge about behaviours in the outdoors including firearms, fire restrictions and so on. 

“If you have ideas we want to hear from you.”

Unformed legal roads, also known as paper roads, were highlighted by farmers as an ongoing issue despite some having established alternative routes where those marked on maps go straight through farm infrastructure.

“In our case we have a paper road going through working space – stockyards and the bunk house and despite having made another road at our cost to address the issue there’s still a small group determined to use the unformed road because it’s on the map,” Molesworth station manager Jim Ward said.

Logan said the Crown is very cautious about those roads.

“Uplifting a legal road is a real sensitive issue and one that we are aware is a concern to property owners.”

Overseas visitors need to be made aware NZ is not a place they can wander at will. 

“Pamphlets at the airport are not the answer. You find someone in breach and the first thing they do is bring out their phone and say – it says …

“We need to hit social media with the messages,” Ward said.

Demands of providing infrastructure such as toilets, bridges, car parks and cabins was a concern raised by farmers.

Outgoing high country chairman Simon Williamson highlighted health and safety as a grey area.

“There are some complicated issues here that we chew over quite often,” Williamson said as he encouraged farmers to have their say in the review process.  

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Information, dates and venues for public meetings will be shared on MPI’s website and Facebook page.

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